Jordan Henderson reveals what impressed him about Arne Slot during Liverpool visit

Jordan Henderson has opened up on his recent return to Liverpool and hailed the impact Arne Slot has made since being appointed the Reds’ head coach.

The former Liverpool captain was back at the AXA Training Centre last month as he paid a surprise visit to his old teammates. Henderson left Anfield in the summer of 2023 in order to make the move to Saudi Arabia as he joined Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq.

He lasted just half a season in the Middle East though before making another move, this time back to Europe as he joined Ajax. The 34-year-old remains in Amsterdam, despite reports linking him with a move back to boyhood club Sunderland – although he did find time to head back to Merseyside at the beginning of October.

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A lot has changed at Liverpool since Henderson left the club. Although he ran into plenty of familiar faces, with the Reds’ squad largely unchanged since last year, the midfielder was also greeted by the club’s new-look coaching staff.

Henderson of course spent much of his time at Anfield playing under Jurgen Klopp, with the German having left during the summer along with his backroom team. Slot has since taken over, and made quite the impression since arriving.

Liverpool currently finds itself five points clear at the top of the Premier League, while it also sits top of the standings in the Champions League, with Slot having guided his side to 15 wins in his 17 games in charge so far.

Henderson has been keeping an eye on the Reds, and has been impressed by what he’s seen from Slot – both from afar and up close.

“So good. I've watched them a lot and the team have had a lift with the manager and the staff coming in,” Henderson told the Dutch media after Ajax’s 2-2 draw against FC Twente on Sunday. “The performances have been outstanding. Every time I've watched them play, they look in full control.

“I went to Liverpool a few weeks ago and met Arne Slot there and his staff and the team. It was very impressive, to be honest. You can see the energy is very good there at the minute. The vibe is good, they look very strong in the league so it's nice to see.”

Liverpool will be aiming to continue its momentum after the international break, with a crucial set of fixtures lying in wait. After their return against Southampton on November 24, the Reds face Real Madrid in the Champions League before taking on Manchester City in the Premier League, with tough trips to Newcastle and Everton following.